The college football season begins on Sat., Aug. 27, which means it's time to pull out your lucky jersey + start planning your tailgates. With three Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the Triangle, it can be hard to keep up. We’re here to help with important dates, players to watch, rivalry games, and more must-knows before kickoff.

🐺 NC State

Head coach: Dave Doeren
Kickoff: Sat., Sept. 3 at 12 p.m. at ECU
First home game: Sat., Sept. 10 at 12:30 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern
Homecoming: Sat., Nov. 5 vs. Wake Forest
Last season recap: 9-3 overall
The Pack ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press’ preseason poll; the last year the team was ranked at the start of the season by the AP Poll was in 2003 at No. 16.
Two players made ESPN’s list of college football’s top 100 players for 2022: quarterback Devin Leary (No. 19) + linebacker Drake Thomas (No. 82).

🐏 UNC

Head coach: Mack Brown
Kickoff: Sat., Aug. 27 at 8:15 p.m. vs. Florida A&M (home)
Homecoming: Sat., Oct. 29 vs. Pittsburgh
Last season recap: 6-7 overall
Wide receiver Josh Downs + cornerback Tony Grimes made ESPN’s top player list at No. 26. and No. 72, respectively.

😈 Duke

Head coach: Mike Elko
Kickoff: Fri., Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Temple (home)
Homecoming: Sat., Oct. 1 vs. Virginia
Last season recap: 3-9 overall
ESPN chose returner Jaylen Stinson to be on its preseason all-conference team (which features the media’s star player predictions).

🏈 Rivalry Games

UNC at Duke | Sat., Oct. 15 | Time TBD
NC State at UNC | Fri., Nov. 25 | Time TBD